As far back as I can remember, I have always loved my English classes. I enjoy the reading, writing and I hate math and science so maybe English won by elimination! Regardless, it didn’t take me long to choose my college major. Here is my list of five things an English major should enjoy.
1. Writing. Simple enough right? An English major loves to write because we know the power of the pen. Our writing utensils may not turn us into He-Man but they do hold strength in willing hands. Writing is special because it forces people to use imagination in an age where our need to imagine is vanishing. Even news articles filled with facts make the reader play a scene in their mind that may or may not be true. Due to the ease of information, things like movies and short videos flood the internet and a person’s ability to imagine a scene is becoming unnecessary.
2. Reading. To be an English major you must enjoy reading for two reasons: it evolves your vocabulary and writing. We have all heard the rule of thumb forced upon us in middle school, “if you read a page and can’t find a word you do not know, it’s too easy.” Back then I thought my teachers were making my life difficult as some sort of joke, now I see they were only expanding my scope of the English language. Reading other writers’ works helps by allowing you to compare and contrast writing styles. When I read, I enjoy noting how a character is developed, how the setting plays a role in the story, etc. By noticing these styles, I improve my own writing.
3. Movies. I know two numbers up I bashed movies due to their lack of imagination but they do have some positives. I enjoy movies, dramas specifically for the plot development. It is interesting to see how a film, and the book it originates from, compare and contrast. Some aspects can be done in films and not on a printed page and vice versa.
4. Listening to People. To be an English major you must be detailed oriented, so listening to a person babble on about their day is a perfect way to start! I love hearing other people’s stories because I have a habit of dramatizing it and placing myself as a character. The simple act of listening to a person’s day also allows the tradition of oral storytelling, a major pillar of language, to live on.
5. Debating with People. There are many times in writing where you will have to take a strong stance. It is important to hold fast to your thoughts while being respectful and open to others’. Having conversations with people is a first step in this process because it forces you to see another’s perspective without having to abandon your own. I cannot recall how many times my roommate and I have talked about social issues such as religion in schools and abortion. I enjoy this time because it allows me to get out of my own head and hear the opinion of someone else.
Being an English major is like every other major in that it is challenging, stressful, full of long nights and coffee. Being an English major is different in that it is full of reading, writing long papers, edits, rewrites, and more papers. But I love every part of it and I’m glad I chose correctly. It beats sitting in a lab all day, no offense science majors. I’m open to adding to my list and if you are an English major, try sitting down and making your own. It won’t hurt to see what makes our major so great.
